At least 12 people were killed and dozens of others wounded in a deadly bomb blast outside a religious shrine in central Bangkok Monday.

"As far as I know, there are more than 10 people dead, many injured. Our initial findings are it is a bomb inside the shrine,'' Thai police chief Chakthip Chijinda told a local news channel, according to The Standard.

The bomb exploded at Rajprasong interception outside the Erawan Shrine in the city's Chidlom district, reported the BBC. The powerful explosion, which police believe may have been caused by a motorcycle bomb, occurred at about 7 p.m. local time.

"All I can say now is there has been an explosion in central Bangkok involving a motorcycle bomb," deputy national police chief Aek Angsananond told Reuters. 

A second live bomb near the explosion site was defused nearly an hour after the blast, reported Channel News Asia. 

Pictures posted on social media showed body parts and burnt motorcycles scattered across the street.

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